RC Car Race Track: Types of Tracks and How to Build Your Own
RC car race tracks come in four main types: off-road dirt or clay tracks with jumps and berms for buggies and trucks, indoor carpet or turf tracks for 1/10 racing, smooth asphalt or carpet on-road circuits for touring cars, and rock or trail courses for crawlers. Club tracks give the best experience, but you can build a simple backyard track with a few jumps, berms and barriers using soil, wood and old hoses.
By Kyle HilsonUpdated: October 20263 min read
Types of tracks
| Track | Surface | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| Off-road outdoor | Dirt, clay, sometimes with water and compaction | Buggies, truggies, short course |
| Indoor off-road | Carpet, astroturf or clay | 1/10 buggies |
| On-road | Asphalt or carpet | Touring cars, F1, pan cars |
| Oval | Asphalt, dirt or carpet | Oval racers, sprint cars |
| Crawler / trail | Rocks, logs, gradients | Crawlers, scale trucks |
| Drift | Polished concrete, P-tile | RWD drift cars |
What makes a good track
Good tracks flow: corners connect so drivers can keep a rhythm, jumps land on downslopes, and there are passing places. The driver’s stand gives a clear view of the whole layout, and marshal points let crashed cars be turned over quickly. Surface preparation matters more than layout: a well-watered and rolled clay track gives grip and consistency, while a loose surface becomes rutted. Club tracks are found through the methods in how to find an RC car club near you.
Build a backyard track
- Plan the layout on paper: a figure eight or oval with one or two jumps fits most gardens.
- Mark it out with string or spray paint.
- Clear and level the ground; remove stones that damage cars.
- Build jumps from compacted soil or wooden ramps with a smooth landing slope.
- Add berms (banked corners) from soil to carry speed through turns.
- Mark edges with garden hose, pipe or plastic borders; avoid rigid wood that breaks cars.
- Water and compact the surface to keep dust down and improve grip.
Small and indoor tracks
For 1/18 and 1/24 cars, a garage or basement works with foam tiles, carpet offcuts and pipe or foam borders. Portable track sets with interlocking borders are sold for indoor use. Drift tracks need a smooth floor and well-defined walls; drift cars are designed to slide, so grip should be low.
Which car for your track
Off-road layouts suit 1/10 buggies and short-course trucks; on-road carpet suits touring cars. For backyard dirt, a durable 4WD short-course truck is forgiving. Popular track cars are compared in the best 1/10 scale RC cars.
Track tips
- Keep jumps moderate at first; big jumps break parts.
- Build a raised driver’s spot for a better view.
- Avoid sharp edges, metal stakes and rocks in landing zones.
- Agree noise and time rules with neighbours.
- Change the layout from time to time to keep it fresh.
Maintaining a dirt track
Water the track before running, roll or tamp it to compact the surface, and repair ruts and holes after each session. Weeds and loose stones creep in over time, so a regular rake keeps it clean. A small amount of clay mixed into sandy soil helps the surface stay firm.
Safety
Keep spectators, children and pets outside the track and away from jumps. Fast cars can leave the track at landing points, so place barriers there.
FAQ
How big should an RC track be?
For 1/10 cars, at least about 10 × 15 m outdoors; smaller for mini cars.
What is the best surface?
Compacted clay for off-road, carpet or asphalt for on-road.
Can I build a track in my backyard?
Yes, with soil jumps, berms and hose borders.
What are berms?
Banked corners that help cars carry speed.
More on this topic: the complete RC Cars guide covers the basics behind this article.
About 20 years in RC. Mostly boats in the NAVIGA Mini Eco Expert class, with many self-made parts; also a King Motor Baja 5B, a home-built electric plane, home-built nitro planes he has flown, and an RC helicopter. More about SwellRC
